Hybrid Car Research Turns to Magnets

New studies now suggest that hybrid cars may be able to improve the way that they run by installing magnets out of the right materials. The study that was done by researchers at the St Polten University of Applied Sciences in Australia have been looking into the best composition for vehicle magnets for quite some time.

The research goes on to show that scientists now think that using optimum high performance magnets may be able to conserve raw materials in hybrid cars. This can save a lot of money when it comes to the management and up-keep of the car itself.

Professor Thomas Schrefl, the lead author on the project says, that compared to neodymium, the proportion of the dysprosium in the ore is less than ten percent. He goes on to say that the high performance properties of magnets currently used for hybrid and electric cars contains up to 30 percent dysprosium. Thomas goes on to explain that, in the long term, there would be fewer problems when it comes to raw materials, particularly problems that could start just after a few years of owning a car. He also noted that all new cars will be fitted with hybrid or electric drives.

The project itself is a collaboration between the researchers at St Polten University and the University of Sheffiled. Of course, more work still needs to be done on how magnets can be used to truly improve the way that these new cars run, but researchers say that, so far, the research has proven that higher quality magnets do improve the way that these cars run.